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The Mainichi
10-08-2025
- Science
- The Mainichi
Retro Japan: University auditorium in Tokyo a timeless space of sound and light
TOKYO -- A university auditorium in the Japanese capital built with inexpensive materials and cost-saving methods has offered a timeless space of sound and light. Located on the Ookayama Campus of the Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology) in Meguro Ward, the 70th Anniversary Auditorium was constructed utilizing the area's sloped terrain. Designed by architect Yoshiro Taniguchi (1904-1979), renowned for works such as the Togu Gosho, now known as the Sento Imperial Palace, in Tokyo, the auditorium was completed nearly 70 years ago. The cost to build it was covered by donations from alumni and staff, leading to the use of inexpensive materials and cost-saving measures in its construction. Facing the slope covered in grass on the south side, the auditorium features a barrel-vaulted roof, horizontal eaves and a series of tall, narrow windows. As one enters the building, the intersecting horizontal and vertical lines of the exterior give way to a soft curved ceiling, seating arranged along the slope, and concrete blocks at the back of the stage. These blocks are curved, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Inside the auditorium, the north side features zigzag lauan wood slats, intentionally creating gaps that enhance sound absorption. The tall, narrow windows on the south side also provide excellent acoustics. Observing the light diffusing through the wooden lattices, one can momentarily forget the passage of time. (Japanese original by Akihiro Ogomori, Photo and Video Department) * * * The Japanese version of this article was originally published on May 7, 2023. * * * This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.
Korea Herald
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
First female university president tapped as education minister
President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday nominated Lee Jin-sook, former president of Chungnam National University, as South Korea's new education minister. Lee, 65, is known for being the first female president of a flagship national university and is highly regarded for her leadership in higher education. A graduate of Chungnam National University's architectural engineering program, she earned a master's degree in architectural planning from the same institution and a doctorate in environmental architectural planning from Tokyo Institute of Technology. After joining her alma mater in 1989 as a professor, she then became the school's first female president in its 68-year history. Lee's nomination is seen as aligning with the administration's key pledge to develop '10 Seoul National Universities' by investing in nine regional flagship universities. As head of the initiative during the presidential campaign, she emphasized education as a tool for regional revitalization and equity.
Yomiuri Shimbun
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Over 300 Earthquakes Rumble in Sea Off Kagoshima Pref. Islands, Putting Residents on Alert
The sea off the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture was hit with 336 earthquakes measuring at least a 1 on the Japanese seismic scale from Saturday to 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to a regional branch of the Japan Meteorological Agency. Six of the earthquakes measured a 4 on the Japanese seismic scale, which goes as high as 7. Experts have suggested that even larger quakes could occur, and the agency's Fukuoka regional headquarters is calling for people in the area to stay on the alert against earthquakes with strong shaking. Tremors in the sea near the islands grew more frequent after 8 p.m. on Saturday, according to the regional headquarters. The largest quake over the period struck on Sunday afternoon and registered a magnitude of 5.1. There have been as many as 15 quakes per hour. On Tuesday, at 2:23 a.m. and again at 4:04 p.m., shaking measuring a 4 on the Japanese seismic scale was felt on Akusekijima Island in the prefecture's village of Toshima. The sea near the Tokara Islands has been the source of many prior earthquakes. In December 2021, tremors measuring 1 or higher on the Japanese seismic scale struck 308 times. On Dec. 9, 2021, a quake measuring a 5 on the seismic scale hit Akusekijima Island, forcing 30 residents to evacuate to Kagoshima City and to Hisayoshi Yokose, an associate professor at Kumamoto University specializing in marine volcanology, near the islands the Philippine Sea Plate is subducted beneath another tectonic plate connected to the Asian continent. This geology tends to cause a buildup of tension that results in earthquakes. Yokose thinks the recent quakes have occurred inside the continental plate. 'Past trends show that even bigger earthquakes occur after seismic activity subsides,' he said. The area where the quakes have occurred is part of a volcanic cluster that stretches from the Kirishima mountain range, in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, to Io-Torishima Island in Okinawa Prefecture. Junichi Nakajima, a Tokyo Institute of Technology professor in seismology, suggested that magma may have cooled when rising through the ground and water in that magma may have seeped out, making the fault prone to slippage. On Sunday, Mt. Shinmoedake, part of the Kirishima mountains, erupted for the first time in seven years. However, the volcano, which rises to a height of 1,421 meters, lies at a distance from the Tokara Islands. 'I don't think it had any effect' on the earthquakes, Nakajima said. As of Sunday, 667 residents were living on seven remote islands in Toshima. 'You never know when a big quake will come. It reminds me of the one that we had four years ago that registered a 5 on the seismic scale,' said a 34-year-old man running a minshuku bed and breakfast on Akusekijima Island. Since Monday, students have been commuting to a school on the island were wearing helmets. Some of the children have reportedly said they cannot sleep at night. 'We'll try to relieve their concerns as much as we can,' said the school's principal.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Protein Crystallization Market Report 2025: Projected $2.8 Billion Growth by 2029
The protein crystallization market is projected to grow to $2.8 billion by 2029, driven by demand for personalized medicine and biopharmaceuticals. Key trends include AI integration, automation, and next-gen X-ray tech. North America leads, with Asia-Pacific as the fastest-growing region. Protein Crystallization Market Dublin, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Protein Crystallization Market Report 2025" has been added to offering. The protein crystallization market is poised for significant growth, with its size expected to increase from $1.62 billion in 2024 to $2.8 billion by 2029, reflecting a robust 11.5% CAGR. This trajectory is driven by rising demand for protein-based drug development, a surge in chronic diseases, and advancements in protein-ligand interaction research. The expanding focus on high-throughput screening and specialized crystallography software further bolster this growth. The growing biopharmaceutical sector significantly contributes to this expansion. Biopharmaceuticals offer targeted treatments for chronic conditions, leveraging protein crystallization for precise protein structure determination, yielding effective and stable therapeutics. Investments in R&D, such as Australia's $4.34 billion allocation in 2022-23, underline the sector's influence on market acceleration. Companies are innovating with cell-free protein crystallization to enhance efficiency and stability. The Tokyo Institute of Technology's 2022 development of this groundbreaking method exemplifies advancements, offering improved crystallization processes crucial for structural biology and drug discovery. This approach is set to refine techniques for studying complex proteins, advancing therapeutic strategies. Key players include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corning Incorporated, and Charles River Laboratories, among others. Their innovations and strategic expansions are shaping the market, with North America leading in market size as of 2024, while Asia-Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region, indicating a shift towards new geographical domains. This comprehensive market report provides insights into market statistics, regional shares, competitor landscapes, trends, and opportunities, offering a detailed outlook on the current and future industry scenarios. It includes services such as custom assay development, cryogenic storage, and automated crystallization platforms. End-users range from pharmaceutical companies to academic institutes, utilizing technologies like X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. The market landscape is defined by revenues from products and services, emphasizing the tangible value of advancements in protein crystallization for structural and therapeutic applications. The Protein Crystallization Global Market Report 2025 provides crucial insights for strategists, marketers, and senior management to evaluate the rapidly expanding market. Focusing on vital trends set to dominate the next decade and beyond, the report offers a detailed guide to navigating these shifts. Scope Markets Covered: By Product: Instruments; Consumables; Software and Services By Technology: X-Ray Crystallography; Cryo-electron Microscopy; NMR Spectroscopy; Other Technologies By End-User: Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies; Academic and Research Institutes Sub Segments: By Instruments Type: X-ray Diffractometers; Liquid Handling Systems; Crystallization Imaging Systems; Microfluidic Systems; Incubators & Temperature Control Devices By Consumables Type: Crystallization Reagents; Microplates & Crystallization Plates; Screens & Buffers; Cryoprotectants; Protein Purification Kits By Software and Services Type: Crystallography Data Analysis Software; Molecular Modeling Software; AI-Based Structure Prediction Tools; Custom Crystallization Services; Training & Consulting Services Companies Featured The companies featured in this Protein Crystallization market report include: Thermo Fisher Scientific Corning Incorporated Charles River Laboratories Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Douglas Instruments Limited Bruker Corporation Tecan Group Greiner Bio-One International GmbH Rigaku Corporation Viva Biotech Formulatrix Inc. Creative Biostructure Calibre Scientific Inc. Creative Biolabs Molecular Dimensions Creative Proteomics Jena Bioscience GmbH Saromics Biostructures Art Robbins Instruments Mitegen Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2025 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $1.82 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $2.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.5% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Protein Crystallization Market Characteristics Protein Crystallization Market Trends and Strategies Protein Crystallization Market - Macro Economic Scenario Global Protein Crystallization Growth Analysis and Strategic Analysis Framework Protein Crystallization Market Segmentation Global Protein Crystallization Market, Segmentation by Product Instruments Consumables Software and Services Global Protein Crystallization Market, Segmentation by Technology X-Ray Crystallography Cryo-electron Microscopy NMR Spectroscopy Other Technologies Global Protein Crystallization Market, Segmentation by End-User Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies Academic and Research Institutes Protein Crystallization Market Regional and Country Analysis Asia-Pacific Protein Crystallization Market China Protein Crystallization Market India Protein Crystallization Market Japan Protein Crystallization Market Australia Protein Crystallization Market Indonesia Protein Crystallization Market South Korea Protein Crystallization Market Western Europe Protein Crystallization Market UK Protein Crystallization Market Germany Protein Crystallization Market France Protein Crystallization Market Italy Protein Crystallization Market Spain Protein Crystallization Market Eastern Europe Protein Crystallization Market Russia Protein Crystallization Market North America Protein Crystallization Market USA Protein Crystallization Market Canada Protein Crystallization Market South America Protein Crystallization Market Brazil Protein Crystallization Market Middle East Protein Crystallization Market Africa Protein Crystallization Market Protein Crystallization Market Competitive Landscape and Company Profiles Protein Crystallization Market Other Major and Innovative Companies Global Protein Crystallization Market Competitive Benchmarking and Dashboard Key Mergers and Acquisitions in the Protein Crystallization Market Recent Developments in the Protein Crystallization Market Protein Crystallization Market High Potential Countries, Segments, and Strategies Protein Crystallization Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Mainichi
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Nearly 1/2 of nat'l universities in Japan blame job rules for weaker research capabilities
The rule allowing fixed-term academic employees to switch to indefinite employment after 10 years is a serious factor in Japan's declining research capabilities, nearly half of national universities told a recent Mainichi Shimbun survey. Universities reported that this rule -- originally intended to promote job stability -- often instead results in employment terminations just before a worker reaches 10 years under contract, leaving many academics unable to build stable, sustained research careers. Coupled with declining government funding for university operational expenses, these institutions have struggled to move away from fixed-term employment, highlighting structural problems within academia and challenging Japan's strength in research. Introduced by an amendment to the Labor Contracts Act implemented in 2013, the rule allowed regular workers who had been employed for five years on fixed-term contracts to obtain the right to convert to permanent positions. But a special exemption extended this period to 10 years for researchers whose ongoing projects often span longer timeframes. According to the education ministry, as of April 2023, some 101,602 researchers at universities and research institutions qualified for the rule's 10-year exception. At least 15,838 researchers had become eligible to switch from fixed-term employment to permanent contracts after surpassing the 10-year period, but only 982 had actually exercised their rights. It is suspected that some declined to do so after being presented with changes in employment conditions, including worse terms. Between January and February this year, the Mainichi conducted a questionnaire targeting 86 national universities (including the former Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University, which have integrated into the Institute of Science Tokyo) on the potential effects of the revised Labor Contracts Act on Japan's research capabilities. Responses were received from 74 universities (86%), with 12 institutions -- including major ones like the University of Tokyo, Hokkaido University and the University of Osaka -- opting not to answer. When asked if the revised contractual rules contributed to a decline in research strength, five universities responded they had a "significant impact," and 31 answered "some impact," totaling about half (49%) of respondents. The former Tokyo Institute of Technology, which reported a "significant impact," noted, "It has become an obstacle in researchers' career paths, raising concerns about a decline in research performance in Japan as a whole." Wakayama University, which responded "some impact," explained, "In addition to creating difficulties in developing researchers, it could lead to problems such as decreased motivation and narrowing of research areas." Meanwhile, 38 universities said there was "no impact." The backdrop driving these employment terminations is a decline in national universities' operational subsidies, which fund personnel costs. Since national universities became independent administrative entities in 2004, their operational subsidies have been gradually reduced, with total cuts amounting to over 160 billion yen (approximately $1.1 billion) across two decades. This budget squeeze has pushed universities to significantly boost fixed-term contract employment. Indeed, 21 universities (around 30%) responding to the Mainichi's survey explicitly identified "the decrease in government operational subsidies due to incorporation of national universities" as one reason making the switch to permanent staff positions difficult. The number of frequently cited scientific papers -- a major indicator of international research strength -- shows Japan's sharp decline, falling from fourth to 13th place globally over the past 20 years. Professor Masashi Yanagisawa of the University of Tsukuba, a globally renowned neuroscientist specializing in sleep studies, warned, "Currently, outstanding younger researchers with strong track records and essential technical staff who support research infrastructure on-site are facing critical situations and employment insecurity due to the effects of the Labor Contracts Act. Rather than granting autonomy, national universities have experienced intensified government oversight since incorporation, and with decreased operational funding, universities now lack resources to provide permanent positions. Their hands are largely tied. If Japan wishes to continue producing Nobel laureates, we must urgently correct these structural problems."
